Car-coupling



`(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W,v A. MACOMB. 1

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 367,819. Patented Aug. 9, .1887.

A TTOHIVEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. A. 'MAGGI/1B.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented A wfbww By www? f ff PETERS. Phomulhagnphur. wnmngum DA C.

UNITEDV STATES PATENT Genion.

'WILLIAM A YMACOMB, OF STAMFORD, NEV YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,819, dated August9, 1887.

Applicafion filed Mayl, 1887.

T0 all whom it may concern-.-

Beitknown that I, WILLIAM A. MAooMB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stamford,in the county ofDclaware and State ofNew York,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Car-Couplers;and I do declare the following to be a full,'clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadtothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for :its object to provide a novel and simplifiedconstruction in ear-coup-y lers,whereby when the cars arebroughttogether they will. couple automatically notwithstanding thevarious heights ofthe cars; andit consists in providing the coupler witha number of movable dogs the bearings of which work upon each andoperate entirely by gravity, the bear-in gs of which are placed inupright grooves cut upon the interior ofthe draw-head near-its mouth,sufficient space being allowed between the forward end of them for theadmission of the coupling-link; an'ditalso consists in forining upon thetop of the draw-head two lugs, which form bearings for the removablecover or top, provided with lugs for the purpose of replacing the dogswhen they become broken ordisplaced, and also other details ofconstruction, which will be hereinafter more fully shown and described.Y

In the accompanying drawings,in which corresponding parts are designatedby similar letters, Figure l represents a vertical section of mycomplete invention in a proper position for coupling. Fig. 2 is also avertical section with dogs detached. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of thedraw-head. Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views ofthe dogs; and Fig. 6 isthe removable cover or top piece.

Referring tov the drawings, A represents a draw-head of ordinaryconstruction, ,and having formed within the same, leading from itsmouth, a rounded lip, a, for guiding or directing the link to its properposition. The

draw-head has also formed upon its inner surface, leading from the lipa, two 4upright grooves, a, and extending to the top of the same, forreceiving the bearings of the dogs.

B represents the dogs having formed upon Serial No. 238,020. (No model.)

each side bearings b,`which work in the npright grooves a, the oppositeends tapering in thickness, which causes the same to drop by gravityvintheir proper or normal position. These `bearings are of circular formand of larger diameter than the dogs, and are placed within the groovesa, which cause them to work upon each other,leaving sufficient spacebetween the dogs at the entrance of the coupling for the admission ofthe coupling-link.

The upper dog, B', is constructed somewhat differently fromfhe remainingones, for the purpose of holding the coupling-pin in its proper positionbefore the cars come together. To this end the said dog is provided.upon its face with an inclined groove, b', which serves as abearing-surface for the end of the couplingpin when the coupler is setfor coupling, and which leads to acircular opening,b`l,suffieientlylarge enough forthe passage of the pin. This dog has also formed uponits under vsurface a lip, which causes any one of the dogs when forcedupward in coupling to either directly or indirectly raise thesametoahorizontal position and allow the coupling'pin to fall freely throughthe remaining dogs. rIhe remaining dogs B have slots or holessufficiently large enough to allow the pinto drop through thesame,notwithstanding the angle to which they may be subjected incoupling.

To the top of the draw-head A are secured two uprights or bearingsopposite each other, which receive the hinge-cover C. This cover ishinged to the upright bymeans of a bolt, and having its rear end beveledupon its lower surface for allowing the same to be raised at asufficient height for the purpose of placing or n removing the dogs whenthey become displaced or broken through the rough usage to which theymay be subjected,said cover fitting `into a recess or opening in the topof the draw-head and resting uponthebearing of the dogs, cansing them toretain their proper position. This cover has also provided upon itslower surface, at a suitable distance from its forward end, two lugs, c,which enter the interior of the draw-head, and against which the dog Bis forced in coupling.

By this construction it will be observed that cars of different heightscan be 'successfully coupled, as the link in entering the mouth of thedraw-head is also directed between the ICO dogs, causing the remainingones above the link to assume a horizontal position and allow the pin tofall and couple.

A further object ofmy invention is to avoid the use of springs inconnection with the operating parts, they being uncertain in theiraction and liable to become broken during the rough usage to which allcouplers are necessarily subjectcd,and to effect a better resultentirely by gravity,by means of which the parts operate promptly andreliably.

I'Iaving now fully described my invention7 what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States7 is l. In a car-coupler,the combination of a dra\vhead having upright grooves for receiving` thebearings of the dogs, the upper one having a lip formed upon its undersurface and provided upon its face with an inclined groove leading to acircular opening, andthe remaining dogs provided with slots or recesses7as and for the purpose described.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination of a d raw-head provided with twovertical recesses for receiving the bearings of the dogs, said dogshaving slots or holes for the passage of the con pli ng-pin, and arelnovable cover hi ngcd upon the top of the draw-hcad, as and for thepn rpose described.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination of a drawhead provided with twovertical recesses for receiving the bearings of the dogs, said dogshaving slots or holes for the passage of the coupling-pin, and aremovable cover or top piece hinged to the draw-head and fitting into acorresponding recess in the same and having its rear end bcveled,as andfor the purpose described.

- Lt. In a car-coupler, the combination of a draw-head provided with twovertical recesses extending from the top to bottom for rcceivingcircular bearings projecting from each side ot' the dogs, said bearingsresting upon each other, allowing spaces between the dogs Yfor thepassage ofthe coupling-link7 and a rcmovable cover or top piece hingedto lugs or bearings formed upon the top of the drawhead, as and for thepurpose described.

5. In a ear-coupler, the combination of the draw-head provided with twovertical recesses for receiving the bearings of thedogs,said dogs havingslots or holes for the passage of the couplingpin, and a removable coverhinged to the drawhhead, provided with two lugs or projections, as andfor the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VI LLI AM A. M ACOM B.

